Search Rue Rude with Google

French Freedom of Speech

The mayor of Calais is suing Marine Le Pen of the Front National for saying "repeatedly" that citizens in Calais need a pass issued by the mayor to get to their own homes (because of the number of migrants in the town). In fact, the passes are issued by the police prefecture.

Who's en colère today?

The SNCF (toujours eux), regional train employees in the Lyons area guaranteeing unpleasant travel from the 17th-21st December
Also yet another strike by Sud-Rail, a particularly truculent SNCF union in the south of France, this time five days in January: 6,7, 21, 22 and 23. "We have no choice." Right.

Sedulia's Sites

Quiz: Guess the nationality!

One of the joys (I mean this) of living in the world's most touristy city is that you see people from all over the world every day. As someone who spent her childhood longing to travel and see the world, I love this. I thought I would share with you one day in the life of my Paris. See if you can guess where these people are from. In most cases, I can't be sure myself, but I/one can make an educated guess. "Answers" at the bottom of the page. This is meant to be lighthearted; if anyone wants one of the images removed, just let me know. I have tried to keep everyone anonymous.

Paris waiters have to do this every time they try to decide what language to speak to their customers!

20. Clues: Not dressed for work but still wearing collared shirts. Jeans with black dress shoes. Man on right: baggy pants, dark baseball-style jacket with no logo.Best guess: Parisians now but grew up in the provinces.

21. Clues: Motorcycle, entering long line of cars trying to merge right for a tunnel, from the right.Best guess: Parisian!

Elaine Sciolino in ParisOf the N.Y. Times (or as it prefers to be known, The N.Y. Times) and writer of La Seduction: How the French Play the Game of Life

Le Franco PhoneyA long-term Australian expat in a French ski resort. I can't believe it took me so long to discover this one.

The Compleat AngloI have to like a blog that is named The Compleat Anglo. An Englishman married to his Madame, in the Basque country

Flipflop France23-year-old Sasha, an Oregonian from Forks (town made famous by the Twilight vampire saga), has settled down in France's second city, Lyons. [No that isn't a mistake. I spell it the old-fashioned English way.]